Lord’s Day 09/13 You

Mirror, mirror on the wall. How can God accept me at all? As Christians grow in their walk with Jesus they become more and more aware of their sinfulness. This is certainly my experience. As Christians gather to worship corporately what does each person bring with them? Do Christians gather with others in mind? With God in mind?

What will you bring to worship with your church family? What motivates you? What makes your worship acceptable? How are these questions answered in light of your sinfulness?

It is only throughthe Gospel that God transforms us so that our worship is acceptable. Bryan Chapell on page 109 in Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice* offer some good insight. Chapell is referencing Paul writing in the book of Romans.

He does not say we should offer our bodies to God so that we will become acceptable “living sacrifices.” Paul says that we should offer our “bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (12:1). “Holy and pleasing” are not descriptions of what we will become; they are declarations of what we are. Before we have performed our religious duties, God makes us holy and pleasing to himself.

The Christian’s identity is in Christ. It is amazing that such sinful people can offer any acceptable worship to God. We can not do this on our own. Only through the Gospel can this happen.

How does God make us holy apart from our obedience? Paul has already explained that righteousness for the Jews does not come from their obedience but from faith in the righteousness God provides for them (10:1-3). Now, the apostle says, this merciful covenant that God established to bless his chosen people has been extended to all nations (11:25-32). Because God embraces us in this mercy, he also declares us “holy and pleasing” to himself. Our obedience does not make our worship acceptable; our worship is acceptable because God has made us holy. He accepts our obedience as spiritual worship (and we delight to give it) “in view of God’s mercy” that has made fallible people’s praise pleasing to him (12:1).

Think about where your identity lies. Do you live to become pleasing to God? Or has God given you life so that you may please Him?

Mark Lamprecht on hereiblog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.